Gran Canaria Invitational 2024
Open-ocean, head-to-head human-powered submarine racing Arinaga, Gran Canaria, Spain, 16 - 22 September 2024 Hosted by Rhine Waal University and Submarine Racing Series
In September 2024, submarine racing will return to Playa de Arinaga, a pleasant "local" town which seems a world apart from the bustle and commercialism of the tourist holiday resorts in the South of Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. It is located in the Agüimes district, about ten minutes south of the island airport. It used to be "off" the main tourist routes, and for many years it was the favourite "local beach" for many of the residents of Gran Canaria, who would come down to swim here or sunbathe for the day. However over the last few years a lot of "short-term" accommodation has become available and these have been eagerly used by many "sunbirds" from Nordic countries and Germany over the winter. Despite this small influx, Arinaga remains firmly and solidly a Spanish town, speaking predominately Spanish in the shops and bars, with locals out walking and greeting each other along the Aveneida.
The race will take place in the shelter of the historic pier (Muelle), about 100m from its seaward end. The pier is located in the heart of Playa de Arinaga, at the eastern end of the main shopping street. Historically it was the main loading and offloading site for all commercial deliveries to the east side of the island, but today it is a place to gather and enjoy the sunshine (and the submarines). The pier is an extension of Calle Alcala Galiano, whose cul-de-sac will be partly closed off during the event so that submarine teams can set up their bases of operations. The street will be a busy maintenance hub for divers and submarines, and a place for the teams to and public to interact. The cul-de-sac will be supervised by local security to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.
The event will begin with an Opening Ceremony on the 16th of September. Scrutineering, preparation and the first in-water testing will take place onthe 17th. Three days of racing will follow. The final championship races are scheduled for the 21st of September, followed by an awards and closing ceremony. An advance crew will start work on Saturday 14th September, participate in the local beach clean-up, then start setting up the course underwater and completing the environmental evaluation ready for the arrival of the teams. One of the technologies we will demonstrate is live underwater video, relayed to the surface and live-streamed onto the Internet. A large TV screen on the muelle is also planned, so that visitors can witness the event in real time, virtually underwater.
